R&B Christmas Ball Recap: A Emotional Trip Back to the 90s
The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of performers renowned for their Christmas records. Rather than centering on seasonal songs, the night acted as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 90s R&B.
Starting Performances: Timeless Vibes
The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a set of primarily slow jams from Joe set the stage for the main artists.
The Moving Performance
The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her peak fame.
Then, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply heartfelt performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.
Driving guitar chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the audience's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters
Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their performance featured covers of inspirations, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Christmas Cheer
Towards the end, the concert turned to the Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Thoughts
Although the night's production had some glitches, and the sense at points was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The audience was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.